Press Release
December 10, 2015
Nikau Foundation appoints new general manager
The Nikau Foundation has appointed a new General Manager who brings a wealth of experience from the community and
voluntary sector. Louise Parkin has had 25 years working with hundreds of charitable and philanthropic organisations
both in New Zealand and internationally.
After a ten-year stint in London, she returned home in 2000 and founded Saints Information - Asia-Pacific’s largest
fundraising research agency where she worked for 12 years. Ms Parkin joined Philanthropy New Zealand the same year and
was introduced to the joy of giving through her work with former Wellington philanthropists, Ian and Elespie Prior, who
were great supporters of the arts.
After the sale of Saints to Global Philanthropic, she filled an industry gap by establishing Execucare NZ Ltd - a
boutique recruitment agency specialising in charity management, fundraising, marketing and communications roles. She was
awarded a fellowship of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand in 2013 for her contribution to the fundraising
profession through both of these capacity-building initiatives.
Ms Parkin is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Business (Philanthropy and Non-Profit Studies) at Queensland
University of Technology and is focusing her research work on Disaster Philanthropy. On her appointment to the role at
Nikau she says:
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with the excellent Board and team at Nikau Foundation, alongside other
funders to make a difference to the Wellington Region. I hope to use my significant sector qualifications, experience
and networks to encourage philanthropy and develop strategic, innovative grant making within the community foundation
model."
The Nikau Foundation is part of a world-wide network of community foundations set up to benefit a specific geographic
area, in this case the Wellington region. The Foundation manages 22 endowment funds which benefit the arts, education,
social and youth projects, the environment and beyond. It does this through the generosity of local donors. The funds it
manages grew 100 per cent in the last year.
Ms Parkin has been working at Nikau Foundation as their Philanthropy Advisor for the last six months and will be taking
up the role of General Manager in January 2016.
In her spare time, she teaches the Japanese martial art of aikido to adults and children. Her personal philanthropy is
for the benefit of the environment and international aid.